2017 Elsevier B.V. Surface modification of doxorubicin (DOX) intercalated zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoparticles (DOX@ZrP) is proposed to improve the potential of this drug delivery system for cancer therapy. The surface of DOX@ZrP nanoparticles was modified with an amorphous layer of Zr(IV) followed by modification with monomethyl-poly(ethylene glycol)-monophosphate (m-PEG-PO3) as a feature to increase the DOX@ZrP biocompatibility. 31P{1H}MAS NMR data shows a new peak at 26 ppm corresponding to the PO43 groups coordinated with Zr(IV) on the surface. Initial MTS cell viability assay reveals that m-PEG-PO3/Zr(IV)/DOX@ZrP exhibits 20% higher cytotoxicity than free DOX and the other ZrP materials when human prostate cancer PC3 cells are exposed for 48 h. m-PEG-PO3 polymer coating of DOX@ZrP nanoparticles promise to have a strong impact on the targeting, distribution and degradation of the nanoparticles under physiological environment that should result in a more efficient chemotherapy agent than free doxorubicin.
